Apple TV to shoot Metropolis series in Melbourne

Big budget Apple TV+ drama Metropolis will film in Victoria, based at Melbourne’s Docklands studios.

The 8 part series, inspired by Fritz Lang’s 1927 classic sci-fi, is written and directed by Sam Esmail (Mr. Robot), who also serves as showrunner.

Produced by UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group and Esmail Corp., it is projected to contribute $188 million to the Australian economy. Matchbox Picture will shepherd the production locally.

The project has funding from the Morrison Government’s $83.8m Location Incentive fund, with the Victorian Screen Incentive further contributing $41.6 million to the project.

Minister for Communications, Paul Fletcher, said: “I’m pleased to welcome these productions to Australia, creating more than 2,100 jobs for local cast and crew, more than 7,200 extras roles, and utilising an estimated 2,100 businesses across the country, supporting our ongoing national prosperity and further strengthening our creative and cultural sectors.”

Victorian Minister for Creative Industries, Danny Pearson said: “Metropolis will be among the largest productions to ever film in Victoria, providing thousands of secure local jobs and delivering a massive skills boost.

“Victoria is already home to some of the best staff, talent and production facilities in the world – new virtual production infrastructure will cement the state’s reputation as a global screen destination.”

Matt Vitins, Chief Operating Officer of Matchbox Pictures, who will be managing production services on the project, said: “Metropolis comes in the context of a pipeline of premium television drama series from across Universal Studio Group attracted to Australia by the Location Incentive including Clickbait, Young Rock, La Brea, Irreverent and Joe vs Carole.”

“Australia’s strong history and reputation in visual effects and equally strong record in game development means it is well placed to take a world-leading position in the application of virtual production technology. This latest pipeline of projects, as well as the investment in infrastructure and training, will position Australia for a decade of high-end work in virtual production driven film and television shows.”

The Andrews Labor Government is providing $12.5 million to deliver the infrastructure which will be built in Victoria, boosting the state’s position as a world-leading centre for screen production. The Morrison Government is also backing the technically ambitious series, providing $5 million to support students with training to work with this state-of-the-art technology as part of a national upskilling program.

The infrastructure will include one of the largest permanent ‘LED volumes’ – high-tech digital screens that can display realistic background environments and visual effects – allowing imagined and real destinations to be filmed on stage. This technology, which was used to bring worlds to life in the ground-breaking Star Wars series, The Mandalorian, will be configured for high-budget international films and television series.

A second LED volume, adapted for more contained scenes, will attract domestic as well as international productions.
Victorian Minister for Creative Industries, the Hon Danny Pearson MP, said: “With this industry-leading infrastructure capability, we’re putting Victoria at the forefront of the global screen industry. Together with the recent addition of our new super sound stage, this will make Victoria the go-to place for ambitious screen productions.”

The virtual production workforce training program on Metropolis will place a number of paid trainees with visual effects houses, games developers and other companies engaged in virtual production workflow. Universal Studio Group and Matchbox Pictures will also establish a partnership with the Victorian College of the Arts that will enable students to develop technical skills in virtual production.

This virtual production infrastructure, coupled with the recent completion of Sound Stage 6 at Docklands Studios Melbourne- which was designed to support larger-scale international productions — substantially advances both Victoria’s and Australia’s strategic position as a leading screen production destination.